Days after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his re-election, the Indian leader on Monday publicly acknowledged the good wishes from Trudeau and said that India looks forward to working with Canada based on mutual understanding and respect for each others concerns.
While PM Modi was prompt in responding to congratulatory messages by other world leaders, he replied to Trudeau’s post after good four days, sending a strong message to Canada.
Taking to X, PM Modi wrote, “Thank you @CanadianPM for the congratulatory message. India looks forward to working with Canada based on mutual understanding and respect for each others concerns.”
Earlier on 6 June, Trudeau congratulated PM Modi on winning the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and forming the government for the third time but at the same time didn’t miss the opportunity to lecture PM Modi on “human rights” and “rule of law”, a day after a Canadian parliamentary committee designated India as the second-most significant threat to Canada’s democracy.
Taking to X, Trudeau wrote, “Congratulations to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his electoral victory. Canada stands ready to work with his government to advance the relationship between our nations’ peoples—anchored to human rights, diversity, and the rule of law.”
Trudeau had to face a brutal troll on social media platforms for bringing up “human rights” and the “rule of law” in a congratulatory post.
The relations between India and Canada hit rock bottom after Trudeau had accused Indian government agents of being involved in the killing of a Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was designated a Khalistani terrorist by Indian security agencies. New Delhi had promptly dismissed the allegations as “baseless”.
The tension between the two countries further deepened after a recent high-level Canadian parliamentary committee report identified India as the second most significant foreign threat to Canada’s democratic institutions and processes, following China.
The National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP), comprising members with top security clearances from both the House of Commons and the Senate, indicates that India’s efforts in foreign interference have expanded beyond addressing pro-Khalistan factions in Canada.
The report highlighted that these efforts now encompass meddling in Canadian democratic systems and institutions. This includes targeting Canadian politicians, ethnic media, and Indo-Canadian ethnocultural communities. India is referenced 44 times within the 84-page report.
There was no immediate response to the report from Indian officials. New Delhi has dismissed similar allegations in recent months and instead accused Canadian officials of interfering in matters within India.
The Indian side has also contended that Canada is harbouring Khalistani and other extremist elements and giving space to them to carry out anti-India activities.
With inputs from agencies
Link to article –
